• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Devil Wears Salad
  • Recipe Categories
  • Salad Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Salad Dressings
  • Pairings
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Spring Salads
  • Fall Salads
  • Recipe Categories
  • Salad Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Salad Dressings
  • Ingredient Pairings
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • Bowl of whipped sweet potato next to a bowl of Brussel sprouts
      Whipped Sweet Potatoes
    • Brussels Sprouts With Bacon in a grey bowl with serving cutlery served with whipped sweet potatoes and roasted carrots on the side
      Easy Brussels Sprouts With Bacon Recipe
    • Savoury Sweet Potato Casserole in a ceramic baking dish, with bread on the side
      Savoury Sweet Potato Casserole
    • How to Make Salad Dressing text overlay
      How to Make Salad Dressing
    • How to Make a Salad text overlay
      How to Make a Salad
    • Lifting a serve of Creamy Potatoes au Gratin from a ceramic baking dish
      Creamy Potatoes au Gratin
    • Bowl of mashed sweet potato in a grey bowl with a gold spoon served with Brussel sprouts and roast chicken on the side
      Mashed Sweet Potatoes [Savoury Recipe]
    • Vegan Quinoa Salad on a green plate
      Vegan Quinoa Salad
    • Adding a teaspoons of Basil and Mint Dressing onto tomato and artichoke salad
      Basil Mint Dressing
    • Fish Sauce Lime Vinaigrette in a jar with fresh limes, fish sauce bottle and brown sugar on the side
      Fish Sauce Lime Vinaigrette
    • Tahini Ranch Dressing in a small white bowl sitting next to grilled cos lettuce with the plate resting on a grey napkin.
      Vegan Tahini Ranch Dressing
    • A teaspoon of Sriracha Aioli from a small blue bowl with salad on the side
      Sriracha Aioli
    Home » Recipes » Asian Salad Recipes

    Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

    Published: Mar 24, 2020 · Modified: May 17, 2021 by The Devil Wears Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    A celebration of colours, this Asian Vermicelli Salad delivers on flavour and presentation. Mixed through with aromatic Vietnamese mint, crunchy sugar snap peas and pungent fish sauce, this salad will soon become a dinner party favourite!

    Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

    Why I Love Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

    Have you ever been in a situation where you have walked or driven past something for the longest time and you never noticed something was there?

    I recently had to go to an outdoor adventure store, which mind you I have many times, and as I drove into the compound, I noticed an Indian grocer.

    Let me tell you it wasn’t small or hidden away. In fact, quite big and prominent and located near the main road. I later found out it had been there for 18 months. Not sure how I missed it!

    I had time so I decided to venture in and OMG…..I was in heaven! It so happened I walked in a week before Diwali so you can imagine all the beautiful decorations and fresh flowers they had!

    This supermarket also sold food so the smell alone made me ravenous. Despite not being hungry at all, I couldn’t resist a serving of dal makhana and eggplant bharta with rice.

    After that I walked up and down the aisles and there is no better feeling than looking at ingredients you know nothing about! I was fascinated and I reckon I weaved through those aisles about 4 times each.

    I walked away with a hefty loot including a bag of coloured vermicelli. Naturally I couldn’t wait to try it out and create this Asian noodle salad recipe.

    What is Vietnamese Mint?

    Contrary to popular belief, Vietnamese mint is not part of the mint family but it does resemble mint because of its appearance, fragrance and also in its growing conditions.

    It is called the Vietnamese mint because even though it grows predominantly in all of Southeast Asia, it grows naturally in Vietnam and in abundance.

    Also known as Vietnamese coriander, the Vietnamese mint leaves are long and pointy. It is green with dark inner markings and a spine with a red tinge. It is peppery in tates and known to have a hot minty flavour.

    Where to Buy Vietnamese Mint?

    You can buy Vietnamese mint from your Asian grocers although more and more mainstream supermarkets are stocking them.

    What Are Some Dishes That Use Vietnamese Mint?

    Vietnamese mint is used a lot in rice paper rolls as well as in Vietnamese salads.

    Some other famous dishes include bun cha, a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and noodle as well as the Hue beef noodle soup.

    My mother uses Vietnamese mint in a local Malaysian dish called Assam Laksa. We call it daun kesum. Which is a tamarind fish based soup with noodles, cucumber and pineapple. And can I say, no one, and I mean no one, can make an Assam Laksa quite like my mum!

    Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

    Difference Between Rice Wine and Rice Vinegar

    Rice vinegar is also called rice wine vinegar and as such causes confusion between rice wine vinegar and rice wine. In fact, they are 2 completely different things.

    Both these products are made from glutinous rice of which it is transformed into alcohol by adding yeast into its fermentation process. Its overall alcohol content is fairly low and the rice wine has a slightly sweeter taste.

    Some of the more popular rice wines include Shaoxing (Chinese rice wine), mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine), and sake (dry Japanese rice wine). Both Shaoxing and mirin are used for cooking on a regular basis.

    If you add bacteria to the fermentation process, it will turn the alcohol into acid. And this is how you get rice wine vinegar.

    Compare this to normal white distilled vinegar, rice wine vinegar is less acidic, milder and more delicate. Hence a popular vinegar to use in salad dressing recipes.

    When looking for the rice wine vinegar in the Asian section of your supermarket, just ensure you see the word vinegar and you can’t go wrong! But even if you do end up with rice wine instead, just enjoy a glass or two!

    How to Make Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

    How to Prepare the Soy Sauce Dressing

    For this recipe we’ll be making the dressing first as we need to let the garlic do its work and let it sit for 30 minutes.

    Crush one garlic clove to release its pungent aromas.

    Mix the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, chilli flakes and the juice of ¼ lime. Then add the crushed garlic to the dressing and leave it for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can always make this ahead of time and leave it overnight.

    How to Prepare the Vegetables

    Sugar snap peas and shredded carrots

    Let’s start with the small carrot. Peel the carrot and then using a shredding peeler or mandolin, shred the carrots into nice long strands.

    For the bean sprouts, snap off the roots so they are not so unsightly. Bring a small pot of water to the boil, blanch for 30 seconds, drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. You can most certainly eat this raw too if you wish.

    Moving onto the sugar snap peas, remove the string by using a small knife. Grasp the curly end, pull it downward along the pod to remove the string. Do this for both the top and underside of the peas.

    Bring a small saucepan of water to the boil, blanch for 1 minute, drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.

    Bean Sprouts

    How to Cook Coloured Vermicelli

    Bring a medium sized saucepan of water to the boil. Add the coloured vermicelli for 5-6 minutes.

    After it’s cooked, rinse under cold running water and set aside to dry. Remove as much water as possible by tapping the colander against the sink. I then toss the vermicelli and tap the colander again to rid more of its water.

    The vermicelli will get a bit starchy and will appear as one big clump. Don’t worry about it as once we add the dressing, it will loosen it up.

    And if you’re wondering, the colours didn’t really fade after boiling. A very slight loss of vibrancy but the colours were still very prominent.

    Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

    How to Prepare the Herbs

    Roughly chop the top end of the coriander to yield 1 cup.

    With the Vietnamese mint, pick the leaves off the stem. We want them in tact so that you can lay them flat and pile the leaves one on top of the other.

    With a sharp knife, slice the leaves very thinly into long strands. Cut enough to yield ⅓ cup.

    How to Assemble Vermicelli Salad

    Mix all the ingredients, except the fried shallots, together.

    Add the dressing and toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste.

    In a piled heap, place the salad on a serving bowl or platter. Garnish with fried shallots and serve.

    I love our salad inspiration process. This salad recipe came about because I needed to buy a new pair of hiking boots for my daughter and instead, I came home with lentils, paneer, garam masala, coloured vermicelli and a full belly!

    I was itching to give the vermicelli noodles a try and was thrilled that it worked out so well. Oh….in the end I forgot to get the boots (facepalm!)

    That’s all!

    More Budget Friendly Salad Recipes

    Get inspired by the biggest collection of salad recipes in the one place. We have recipes to suit lifestyle preferences and different occasions. These salads are both delicious and stylish. Search for your favourite ingredient to find a salad you’ll love!

    • Ruby Grapefruit, Watermelon Panzanella Salad
    • Medley of Roasted Potato Salad with Anchovy Dressing
    • Wombok, Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw
    • Chorizo Salad with Sweet Potato
    • Gem Avocado and Watercress Salad

    Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

    Salad dressings are incredibly easy to make in the comfort of your own home. This way you can control the ingredients to suit your palate and you can make the exact portion you need for that one meal. Check out our collection!

    • Honey Seeded Mustard Dressing
    • Horseradish Mayonnaise Dressing
    • Lemon Parsley Anchovy and Garlic Dressing
    3 serves of Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing with dressing on the side

    DON’T WANT TO MISS RECIPES? Click HERE to get them sent to your inbox.
    Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.


    Recipe

    Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing
    Print Recipe
    5 from 30 votes

    Rainbow Vermicelli Salad with Soy Dressing

    A celebration of colours, this Asian vermicelli salad delivers on flavour and presentation. Mixed through with aromatic Vietnamese mint, crunchy sugar snap peas and pungent fish sauce, this salad will soon become a dinner party favourite!
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Asian
    Dietary: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 425.67kcal
    Author: Amy Chung

    Ingredients

    Salad Dressing

    • 1 garlic clove
    • ¼ lime, juiced
    • 4 tbsp rice wine vinegar
    • 2 tbsp soy sauce
    • 2 tsp fish sauce
    • ¼ tsp chilli flakes

    Salad

    • 1 carrot, small
    • 100 g bean sprouts
    • 100 g sugar snap peas
    • 1 cup coloured vermicelli, uncooked
    • 1 cup coriander, chopped
    • ⅓ cup Vietnamese mint, chopped
    • 1 tbsp fried shallots
    • 1 tbsp peanuts, crushed
    • salt, to taste
    • pepper, to taste

    Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.

    Instructions

    Salad Dressing (do this first)

    • Peel 1 garlic clove and crush it.
    • Mix the rest of the dressing ingredients together and add garlic clove.
    • Let the garlic marinate in the dressing for 30 minutes.

    Salad

    • Peel the small carrot and shred with shredding peeler or mandolin.
    • Snap off the roots of the bean sprouts. Bring a small pot of water to the boil, blanch for 30 seconds, drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
    • Remove the string off the sugar snap peas. Using a small knife, grasp the curly end, pull it downward along the pod to remove the string. Do this for both the top and underside of the peas. Bring a small pot of water to the boil, blanch for 1 minute, drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
    • Bring a medium sized pot of water to the boil. Add the coloured vermicelli for 5-6 minutes. Wash under cold running water and set aside to dry. Remove as much water as possible.
    • Roughly chop coriander to yield 1 cup.
    • Pick the Vietnamese mint leaves off the stalk. Lay them flat on top of on another and slice into long strips to yield ⅓ cup.

    Assembly

    • Mix all the ingredients, except the fried shallots together.
    • Add the dressing and toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste.
    • In a piled heap, place the salad on a serving bowl or platter.
    • Garnish with fried shallots and serve.

    Notes

    • You can find coloured vermicelli in Indian grocers. Otherwise, any vermicelli will be fine. Normal vermicelli however is quite long so cut them up before tossing so it’s easier to eat.
    • You can substitute sugar snap peas with snow peas or green beans.
    • Buy the peanuts already roasted so you don’t have to do it yourself. Use raw peanuts for a healthier version.
    • Buy fried shallots already made from the Asian grocer.
    • Use more or less of the chilli flakes to adjust or even eliminate the heat level.
    • Replace soy sauce with tamari to make this recipe gluten free.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 425.67kcal | Carbohydrates: 85.42g | Protein: 18.57g | Fat: 4.6g | Saturated Fat: 0.39g | Sodium: 983.52mg | Potassium: 2853.52mg | Fiber: 9.39g | Sugar: 7.61g | Vitamin A: 6475.88IU | Vitamin C: 357.03mg | Calcium: 777.94mg | Iron: 26.8mg

    *Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.

    Tried this recipe? We’d Love To See It!Mention @thedevilwearssalad or tag #thedevilwearssalad!

    Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

    « Sweet Potato and Spinach Salad
    Miso Mayo Dressing »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patrice

      March 25, 2020 at 10:23 am

      5 stars
      Love the colors in the salad. I’ve never tried Vietnamese mint before. Will have to check it out when I can get back to an Asian market!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        May 12, 2020 at 2:07 pm

        Thanks so much Patrice! Vietnamese mint is so aromatic and just changes a dish so much. Hope you can find it!

        Reply
    2. Sula

      March 24, 2020 at 10:24 pm

      What a beautiful salad – the colors are so vibrant! I’ll be on the lookout for Vietnamese mint so I can give this a try. Thank you!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        May 12, 2020 at 2:07 pm

        Thank you! Love this vermicelli and it’s so affordable too. Hope you found Vietnamese mint!

        Reply
    3. Sylvie

      March 24, 2020 at 11:15 am

      5 stars
      This salad looks so fresh and light, absolutely perfect for summer! I adore Vietnamese Mint – cant wait to try it!

      Reply

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    3 women posing in behind kitchen bench in aprons

    United by a common love for salads, us 3 girls decided to embark on a journey to show you that you CAN win friends with salad!

    Tried and tested, these recipes are designed for all discerning home cooks. We have everything from no cook recipes right through to showstoppers. Something for everyone!

    More About Us →

    How to Make a Salad text overlay

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Yum Woon Sen salad on a white plate with pink linen with tea being poured into tea cups in the background
      Yum Woon Sen [Thai Glass Noodle Salad]
    • Whole Baked Apple Arugula Salad on a white plate
      Whole Baked Apple Arugula Salad
    • Grilled Bok Choy with Crispy Garlic on a black oblong platter with gold cutlery and pink flowers for decoration
      Grilled Bok Choy with Crispy Garlic
    • Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad on a grey plate
      Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad
    • Bowls of 5 bean salad with rose gold spoons, over 2 plates of 5 bean salad
      5 Bean Salad [Vegan]
    • Watercress Salad with Apple and Pear in a grey bowl with cheese and bread on the side
      Watercress Salad with Apple and Pear

    Fall Recipes

    • Keto Brussels Sprouts Salad with Shaved Parmesan in a white bowl with colourful fried leaves
      Keto Brussels Sprouts Salad with Shaved Parmesan
    • Garlic rosemary roasted beefsteak tomatoes in a baking dish hovering over a charcuterie board
      Garlic Rosemary Roasted Beefsteak Tomatoes
    • Air Fryer Eggplant with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce in a black shallow bowl
      Air Fryer Eggplant with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
    • soba noodles, pearl mushrooms, edamame, spring onions, cilantro and sesame seeds served in a grey bowl with fork on side
      Pearl Oyster Mushroom Noodle Salad Recipe
    The Devil Wears Salad | Salad Gazette

    Spring Salad Recipes

    • Grilled Bok Choy with Crispy Garlic on a black oblong platter with gold cutlery and pink flowers for decoration
      Grilled Bok Choy with Crispy Garlic
    • Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad on a grey plate
      Shrimp Macaroni Pasta Salad
    • Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Fior di Latte in a grey bowl with gold spoon and fork
      Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Fior di Latte
    • Sesame Avocado Cucumber Salad in a oval salad platter with black cutlery, bowl of fresh strawberries and 2 whole avocados on the side
      Sesame Avocado Cucumber Salad
    How to Make Salad Dressing text overlay
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Footer

    The Devil Wears Salad Favicon

    About Us
    Accessibility Statement
    Privacy Policy
    Terms of Use
    Work With Us

    Facebook
    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2022 The Devil Wears Salad